Starting to think we're in a real predicament.

BitterAndTwisted

It's M'am to you, Missy. I dunno about the form but if you do have the ability to print them off now, I would. It will save time mucking about tomorrow and you don't have a lot of it left.

ETA If you get your application in and accepted the LHA will be paid to you. You will then have 8 week's worth of LHA saved up towards rent and a deposit on a flat-share or lodgings IF YOU DON'T SPEND THE MONEY BY THEN

Elkiemoo

Fire Fox, we were told specifically by our Landlord that we would have to give two months notice. I confirmed with them before I sent the notice in writing. (Moorsely/Buxton Properties, don't look amateur, though I'm confused as to why they have two names...). It did seem a long time... also as we'd shown no interest in continuing the contract I didn't think it was absolutely necessary to give notice, and that it would just be out of courtesy. It seems I'm wrong. Uni accommodation is far more lenient when it comes to these things... I think the deposit is in safe hands, had an official looking letter and leaflet about how it will be handled. Unfortunately my boyfriend's little brother unloaded a round of BB bullets into our ceiling. We have filled in the gaps, but the place will definitely need painting. It's cream throughout which shows up every imperfection. I'm not confident we'll get the full lot back...

As for the LHA application, I will get on it immediately tomorrow, will either see if I can pick up said forms from JCP or get printer ink and download them from the website. That is, if I have to start the claim again? I'm not sure... IT will probably be easier if they're unlikely to back date the claim anyway. Then I can make absolutely sure they have everything they ask for this time.

It's not the randoms I was concerned about, but the idea that I might be claiming falsely if my parents had already paid the rent. And that they might charge me with benefit fraud and find me thousands more.

My boyfriend and I have discussed moving out of London on numerous occasions. It just seems unfeasible to move far away if we have so little money. Particularly Wales, where we would need to be able to drive to get around. I don't know what kind of work we could get outside of London without our own transport. And if either of us ended up traveling into London from work we'd have to pay a fortune in train tickets.

I have tried to get my boyfriend on board as concerns lodger accommodation, but he is adamant that he doesn't want to share anything with anyone. I will try again to convince him... As for our winter energy bills, I was born in a barn. We have gotten by with no heating this winter, just tea, hot water bottles and blankets...

Elkiemoo

BitterAndTwisted, I will have you know I can be very frugal! I cook all my meals from scratch, I haven't bought new clothes in months and I even let my boyfriend cut my hair! Every extra penny we can scrimp will be saved for a deposit... and if need be that includes Christmas money from my Gran and Parents (Boohoo :'( )

puddy

am i going mad here, you live in bromley, not lewisham, or are you on the crystal palace side???

in any case, it doesnt matter who has paid what rent to whom, you are the tenants, you have a rental liability. via HB you are entitled to claim benefits for that liability.

you have 28 days from the start of your jsa claim to make a claim for HB or LHA (whatever) and get it paid from the time that your jsa claim starts.

lincroft1710

My boyfriend is a plumber

I'm surprised he's out of work I thought there was a shortage of plumbers.

Elkiemoo

Jenner, I live in Sydenham. Thanks for the info. Will set things in to motion tomorrow.

Lincroft1710, that's what we keep hearing too. He's got all his plumbing qualifications, however, he doesn't have a driver's license, and he's not corgi registered. Both of which are really limiting in his line of work. He's also self-employed. He has a few contacts who he checks with regularly, but nothing new has come up for a while.

sunnysea83

a perspective tenant i once had applied to local council for a loan for the deposit to be paid, she was on benefits but also single mother. sorry i dont know anymore, i just had to fill out forms confirming she was going to berenting and the deposit amount

socrates

Fire_Fox wrote: »

They will ask for additional information, but your claim will probably start from the date the form is received, regardless of missing documents.

You are well within the regulations to ask that the claim be backdated as long as you make a statement explaining the reasons behind this - missing documents is a very good reason.

BitterAndTwisted

Elkiemoo wrote: »

Unfortunately my boyfriend's little brother unloaded a round of BB bullets into our ceiling. We have filled in the gaps, but the place will definitely need painting. It's cream throughout which shows up every imperfection. I'm not confident we'll get the full lot back... No, neither am I now. You will both have to make good and repaint the ceiling yourselves. If a deduction is made from your deposit you should chase your boyfriend's little brother for the money. I don't suppose there's any point in asking why the blazes anyone was in your RENTED home mucking about with ruddy BB guns!

I have tried to get my boyfriend on board as concerns lodger accommodation, but he is adamant that he doesn't want to share anything with anyone. I will try again to convince him. He may not need terribly much convincing once you discover how much you will be entitled to in LHA as a couple and what that will buy you in rental accommodation in London if you can find it! Beggars can't be choosers etcetera.

I wish you the best of luck and please let us know how you get on.

Fire_Fox

Elkiemoo wrote: »

Fire Fox, we were told specifically by our Landlord that we would have to give two months notice. I confirmed with them before I sent the notice in writing. (Moorsely/Buxton Properties, don't look amateur, though I'm confused as to why they have two names...). It did seem a long time... also as we'd shown no interest in continuing the contract I didn't think it was absolutely necessary to give notice, and that it would just be out of courtesy. It seems I'm wrong.

The reason I am saying they are amateur is (a) the council didn't accept your AST and (b) two months is the landlord's notice, one month is the tenant's notice. I am 100% confident in saying that, many times landlords add all sorts of unenforceable and unfair terms (OFT) in AST's, it doesn't change the legal position. You don't have to give notice at all if you move out on the last day of the fixed term, but as you say it is courtesy to do so. :T

Elkiemoo wrote: »

As for the LHA application, I will get on it immediately tomorrow, will either see if I can pick up said forms from JCP or get printer ink and download them from the website. That is, if I have to start the claim again? I'm not sure... IT will probably be easier if they're unlikely to back date the claim anyway. Then I can make absolutely sure they have everything they ask for this time.

It's not the randoms I was concerned about, but the idea that I might be claiming falsely if my parents had already paid the rent. And that they might charge me with benefit fraud and find me thousands more.

You will get charged with benefit fraud if you lie (and you get caught lying) but nobody is suggesting you do anything of the sort. LHA is paid in arrears so imagine you were paying rent monthly, and carried on doing so whilst your claim was assessed you might have already paid January and February's rent and then get the entire eight weeks given back to you in March.

LHA is given to the tenant for a reason so that you have control over your own money. You can pay your rent daily, weekly, monthly, annually ... the council do not care PROVIDING your rent is paid to the landlord. If you receive LHA yet your rent goes unpaid that is when you get into a lot of trouble from the council: I believe that is classed as fraud.

Elkiemoo wrote: »

My boyfriend and I have discussed moving out of London on numerous occasions. It just seems unfeasible to move far away if we have so little money. Particularly Wales, where we would need to be able to drive to get around. I don't know what kind of work we could get outside of London without our own transport. And if either of us ended up traveling into London from work we'd have to pay a fortune in train tickets.

I have tried to get my boyfriend on board as concerns lodger accommodation, but he is adamant that he doesn't want to share anything with anyone. I will try again to convince him... As for our winter energy bills, I was born in a barn. We have gotten by with no heating this winter, just tea, hot water bottles and blankets...

I wasn't thinking you'd want to relocate to the wilds of Wales, perhaps a city in or close to Wales. Trust me, there is public transport outside of London and it is far cheaper than in the smoke! I am 37, never learned to drive, low income, haven't lived in London since I was 19. I have lived in four different cities and one village and I have got around just fine.

You are going to HAVE to compromise somewhere, neither of you have jobs in a recession and London is one of the most expensive places to live in the country. You owe your parents £6K and no doubt student loans as well, IIRC your boyfriend also has debts. Apologies for appearing to speak down to you, but experience tells me you will never get out of this hole if you don't leave London or move into a shared house.

Kudos for the lack of heating :cool: I am the queen of cold and even I have the heating on low this winter. Bit of light entertainment for you, the exploits of BadgerLady:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=917993